Prides Attract Each Other

There is a dialogue between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth that I enjoyed because both prides are evident. Elizabeth is about to play the piano and Mr. Darcy feels the need to make her nervous. Previously he had been talking to Lady Catherine about his sister’s amazing skill playing the piano so when Elizabeth is about to play he obviously will pay attention to compare her playing with the praised one of his sister.

If I were Elizabeth my hands would have sweated, my heart pounded and I would simply paralyzed and said “could I please be excused I feel suddenly very ill and I’m afraid I am not in my best condition to play” and leave. Mr. Darcy obviously spark some particular emotions in Elizabeth that even though she wants to hide and deny but fails. Yet we know Elizabeth is like no other so my reaction to Mr. Darcy’s presence is not an option for her, instead she faces it right away: “‘You mean to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming all this state to hear me? But I will not be alarmed, though your sister does play so well. There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.’” (pg.131)She first makes Mr. Darcy feel attacked and tries to intimidate him switching his first intentions and confusing him. She then makes it clear that for her his presence makes no difference, that his trial to intimidate her makes her even play better. She mentions stubbornness, this characteristic had not been mentioned before. I see stubbornness very much linked to pride. When pride is so abundant that it becomes almost like arrogance, you are likely stubborn as well because you believes that you earns the right to do things your own way which is the best way possible, no suggestions are allowed. I was not surprised that Elizabeth considers herself a stubborn person, I considered her one before when she rejected Mr. Collins and when she walked to Mr. Bingley’s house and other occasions.

Mr. Darcy, as a proud man as well wont let Elizabeth make him look bad so he replies as strongly, “I shall not say that you are mistaken, because you could not really believe me to entertain any design of alarming you; and I have had the pleasure of your acquaintance long enough to know that you find great enjoyment in occasionally professing opinions which in fact are not your own.” (pg. 131) He denies that he actually is trying to intimidate her, making then her look bad for feeling so important as to be his target. And then he accuses her of not speaking her own thoughts but others. He twisted her statements around yet neither won the discussion, but both made their point which actually means that they are very aware of each other’s movements and intentions and they like it.

And I like it too. They flirt so elegantly and subtle that it’s hard to catch it but impossible to miss. I can’t wait for Jane Austen to stop my impatience and make one of them drop their pride and kiss the other.